Beitin
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| Beitin | |
| Arabic | بيتين |
| Founded in | 19th century |
| Government | Village Council |
| Also Spelled | Baytin (officially) |
| Governorate | Ramallah & al-Bireh |
| Population | 3,050 (2006) |
| Jurisdiction | dunams |
| Head of Municipality | Diab Yassin |
Beitin (Arabic: بيتين) is a Palestinian town in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate in the central West Bank, located five kilometers northeast of Ramallah along the Ramallah-Nablus road. It is surrounded by the Palestinian towns of Dura al-Qar' and Ein Yabrud to the north, Rammun to the east, Deir Dibwan to the southeast and al-Bireh to the southwest, as well as by the Israeli settlement of Beit El to the northwest.
There are several springs around Beitin and the town is well-known for its olives, almond, fig and especially its plum groves.[1] According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), Beitin had a population of over 3,050 inhabitants in mid-year 2006.[2]
[edit] History
Human settlement at the site of Beitin dates back to the Chalcolithic period. Archaeological excavations in 1950 uncovered flint tools, pottery and animal bones from that time. In the early Bronze Age, normally nomadic populations settled in the area. Canaanite tombs, houses and olive presses were discovered to the north and southeast of the village and by the Middle Bronze Age, Bethel was transformed from a village to a fortified Canaanite town.[1] It is believed that this town was named Luza during this time period.[3]
Luza is associated with the Biblical town of Bethel. The Abrahamic faiths believe that Jacob (Yaqub) encountered God in Luza and renamed the town Bethel. However, according to a phrase by Josephus weyatsai mibbet-iel luzah ("from Bethel to Luza") Luza and Bethel were two distinct geographical sites..[3]
Bethel held annual festivals on October 18, during its rule by the Byzantine Empire. At this time Bethel had a Eastern Orthodox Christian population and regularly received monks from the Sinai Peninsula, in particular Zosimas of Palestine. Bethel's church fell into ruin during this period and was only rebuilt by the Crusaders in the 1100s. After the Crusaders were defeated by Ayyubid forces under Saladin in 1187, the church was destroyed and the village was soon abandoned. In the early 19th century, Arabs from Jordan migrated to the site, inhabited it and renamed it Beitin. Today, Beitin's entire population is Muslim. The Byzantine church exists as an ancient ruin in the town called al-Muqater or Khirbet al-Kenise ("Ruins of the Church"). There is another ruin called al-Burj ("The Tower") in western Beitin — which was used as a watch tower by the Crusaders..[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Beitin - Ramallah Jerusalem Media and Communications Centre.
- ^ Projected Mid -Year Population for Ramallah & Al Bireh Governorate by Locality 2004- 2006 Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)
- ^ a b c Luza, also Bethel - (Beitin) Studium Biblicum Franciscanum - Jerusalem. 200-12-19.
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